EMERGING VIRAL PATHOGENS IN LONG-TERM EXPATRIATES(I) - HEPATITIS-E VIRUS

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the so-called 'emerging' viral patho gens, whose role is increasingly being recognized. To estimate the ris k of HEV infection during long-term stays in HEV-endemic countries, 50 0 serum samples obtained from development aid workers and their family members who had spent on average 9 years in HEV-endemic regions were tested for antibodies against HEV by ELISA and Immunoblot. We found se roprevalence rates of 5-6% with no significant differences related to gender or area of upbringing (raised in an HEV-endemic vs. nonendemic region). Seroprevalence rates did not increase with increasing number of stays or number of expatriate years. None of 77 children and adoles cents tested was positive for anti-HEV. The Indian subcontinent showed the highest seropositive rate with 10%. In subjects returning from We st and Central Africa, East Africa, South-east Asia and Latin America seroprevalence rates were around 7%. We found a comparatively low sero prevalence rate of 2.1% for the Arab countries and the Middle East. Ou r results show that there definitely is a risk for long-term expatriat es to acquire HEV infection; however, in most of our cases infection s eems to have been non-or oligo-symptomatic.